He was born May 20, 1932, to Ralph Walter and Jesse May (Williams) Thomas. He married Rhea Dawn Harrell on October 21, 1950; she died September 10, 2012.

He was a 1950 graduate of Shawswick High School. He was a member of the Pinhook Church of Christ and served there as a Deacon. He served on the board of the Pinhook Cemetery Association; he also served as president of Lawrence Co. Farm Bureau and Shawswick Township Farm Bureau for many years. A talented tenor, he loved to sing, especially in church. He was well-known in the community and had many friends and acquaintances.

In addition to being a lifelong farmer, he drove a school bus for Shawswick School for over thirty-five years, managed Indiana Petroleum recap shop for several years and served as County Highway Superintendent for a period of time in the 1970's. He retired from Ralph Rogers Group in 1994.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rhea Dawn Thomas; his brother, Donald Thomas and an infant granddaughter, Susan Thomas.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2013, at Pinhook Church of Christ with Bro. Walter Hunter officiating. Burial will be in Pinhook Cemetery.

Friends may call on Thursday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home, Bedford, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, at the church.

Memorial contributions may be considered to the Pinhook Cemetery Association, in care of Judy Chastain, 105 Sonny Dorsett Road, Mitchell, IN 47446.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fergusonlee.com.

William W. "Bill" Childress - Bedford

William W. "Bill" Childress, 79, of Bedford, passed away at his home after a 3 year illness on Tuesday January 15, 2013. He was born on April 11, 1933 in Bowling Green, Kentucky to Charles & Nellie (Meeks) Childress. He married Ronda (Brown) Childress on November 19, 1983 in Lawrence County and she survives, Bill was a Welder/Fabricator and owner of Bill's Home Maintenance.

Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, he will be missed. He was a Veteran of the United States Air Force and a member of the American Patriot Lodge #750 in Oolitic.

Survivors include his wife, Ronda Childress, of Bedford, his children, Garry Childress, Billy Childress and wife Elizabeth, James Childress, and Rita Claxton all of Hamilton, Ohio; 7 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; brothers, George Childress and wife Aline, of Harvest, Alabama and John Childress and wife Shirley, of Connersville, also survived by man's best friend "Buddy".

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Judy Cameron, brothers, James and Robert, a sister, Estelle.